(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis presided over the Passion Liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday.

In keeping with tradition, the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM. Cap., preached the sermon on the occasion.

This year, the Preacher’s remarks focused entirely on the Cross of Christ: the only hope of the world.

Listen to our report:

“The Cross,” said Fr. Cantalamessa, “does not ‘stand’ against the world but for the world: to give meaning to all the suffering that has been, that is, and that will be in human history.”

The Preacher of the Papal Household went on to say, “It is written that at the moment of Christ’s death, ‘The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised (Matt 27:51).’”

Though these signs often receive an apocalyptic explanation, he said, “[T]hey [also] indicate what should happen in the heart of a person who reads and meditates on the Passion of Christ.”

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St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Christ-centered Roman Catholic community of faith which is called to nurture, restore, and invite all people to unity with God and each other in Christ by a conscious commitment to proclaiming the Word of God through love and service to others, being open to personal conversion, and growing spiritually through prayer, study and celebration of the Sacraments.